It didn't take long after setting up the Coasties drought aid Facebook page for the donations to flood in.

"[The drought] isn't the farmers' problem. This isn't the government's problem. This is Australia's problem and we all have to just do our bit," she says.

"I think it's about just helping other fellow human beings, when it comes down to it."

At times, running the group has been like a full-time job on top of Melissa's day job as she coordinates between those wanting to donate goods or their time to deliver items with the communities and families that need them.

"I'm a little bit hyperactive at times when I'm passionate about something," Melissa says.

"[But] I've learnt to share the love an let go on the reins a little bit."

For Melissa, the most rewarding part of the whole thing has been seeing families from the coast go west and meet the farming families and the communities of the small rural towns.

"At Christmas we had a whole convoy go out which was just amazing to see and to be part of. Quite emotional for me, actually," she says.

"The fact that children are involved… I think they've got to know what's going on.

"They need to understand what drought is, they need to understand where their food comes from, they need to learn compassion."

5,000 connections from the west to the coast

The group now has more then 5,000 members and has become about more than toiletry donations.

"That's 5,000 families on the coast who know more about the drought now, who are connected with farmers, who are going out on trips out west," Melissa says.

"I'm just incredibly grateful that I was given this opportunity to make a difference myself personally, but also allow others to make a difference that they may under other circumstances not have been able to."

The rains in January have eased conditions for many farms, but the drought is not fully broken, so the Coasties drought aid group is also not done yet.

But things are on hold due to COVID-19 movement restrictions.

"Collecting donations and dropping things off is not a sensible thing to do at the moment," Melissa says.

"So I guess it's just a good time for me to catch my breath a little bit."